Calibrachoa plant named ‘Sunbelao’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Sunbelao’, characterized by its upright and outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching and flowering plant habit; early and long flowering period; large single purple violet-colored flowers with dark purple-colored venation; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNBELAO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp. and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Sunbelao’.

The new Calibrachoa plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new upright, spreading and freely branching Calibrachoa plants with large, attractive and uniquely colored flowers.

The new Calibrachoa plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2006 of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 265-7, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 272-1, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in September, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calibrachoa plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since October, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunbelao’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunbelao’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching and flowering plant habit.     -   4. Early and long flowering period.     -   5. Large single purple violet-colored flowers with dark         purple-colored venation.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of the female parent selection have light purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Calibrachoa differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa are more upright than and not         as trailing as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of ‘Sunbelrikubu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,505. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Sunbelrikubu’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were taller and more upright         than and not as trailing as plants of ‘Sunbelrikubu’.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had thicker stems than plants         of ‘Sunbelrikubu’.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger leaves than plants         of ‘Sunbelrikubu’.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had slightly larger flowers         than plants of ‘Sunbelrikubu’.     -   5. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and ‘Sunbelrikubu’ differed         slightly in flower color as plants of ‘Sunbelrikubu’ had         purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Calibrachoa plant; these photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunbelao’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunbelao’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the early summer in an outdoor nursery. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants had been growing for four months when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. ‘Sunbelao’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 265-7, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Calibrachoa sp. identified as code number 272-1, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three weeks at             15° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant             habit; freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches             developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 21 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 44.4 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 19 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.1 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 4.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Narrowly elliptic.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 145B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 145B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4.3 mm. Diameter: About 1.1 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from upper leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             usually about 72 flowers per plant; flowers face upright or             outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Calibrachoa initiate and develop flowers about three             to four weeks after planting; long flowering period,             flowering commences naturally during the spring and plants             flower continuously throughout the summer until late autumn             in Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten             days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 2.6 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 1.05 cm.         -   Tube length.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Tube diameter, base.—About 2 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Cylindrical. Length: About 2.6 cm.             Diameter: About 5.9 mm. Color: Darker than 77A.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.5 cm. Petal width: About 2.1 cm. Petal shape:             Spatulate. Petal apex: Blunt to slightly cordate. Petal             margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube             texture: Pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening, upper             surface: Close to N81A; towards the throat, close to 79A;             venation, close to 79A. Petal, when opening, lower surface:             Close to N79D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to             N82A; towards the throat, close to 79A to 79B; venation,             close to 79A to 79B. Petal, fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 83C. Throat: Close to 7A to 7B. Tube: Close to 79B             to 79D; towards the base, close to 151D.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals fused at the base. Sepal length: About 7 mm to 11 mm.             Sepal width: About 3.6 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal             apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Pubescent. Sepal color: Immature and mature,             upper surface: Close to 138A. Immature and mature, lower             surface: Close to 138B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 0.8 mm.             Angle: Upright to outwardly. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth. Color: Close to 146B with reddish tinting.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five per flower.             Stamen length: About 7 mm to 12 mm. Anther shape:             Ellipsoidal. Anther length: About 1.6 mm. Anther diameter:             About 1.3 mm. Anther color: Close to 10B. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 13B. Pistils: Quantity: One             per flower. Pistil length: About 8.8 mm. Style color: Close             to 145C. Stigma shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma             color: Close to 145A. Ovary color: Close to 145A.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Calibrachoa. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Calibrachoa plants. 

1. A new and distinct Calibrachoa plant named ‘Sunbelao’ as illustrated and described. 